Head of Wisconsin's Largest Islamic Group Detained by ICE

Salah Sarsour, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, was arrested by federal immigration agents on Monday.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:19pm

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A serene, cinematic painting depicting a lone Muslim man in traditional dress standing on a city street corner, the scene bathed in warm, dramatic lighting and deep shadows, conveying a sense of isolation and unease.The detention of a respected Muslim community leader raises concerns about the targeting of immigrant advocates in Milwaukee.Today in Milwaukee

Salah Sarsour, the 53-year-old president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, the largest Islamic organization in Wisconsin, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Monday. Sarsour, a legal permanent resident who has lived in the U.S. for over 30 years, was taken into custody while collecting mail at an office in Milwaukee and is currently being held at a detention facility in Indiana.

Why it matters

The arrest of the prominent Muslim community leader has raised concerns about potential racial profiling and the targeting of immigrant rights advocates. The Islamic Society of Milwaukee is a major institution serving the state's Muslim population, and Sarsour's detention could have significant implications for the local community.

The details

According to the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, Sarsour was approached by an armed plainclothes agent outside a Milwaukee office on Monday morning. About a dozen more agents in plainclothes then arrived and identified themselves as ICE officials before taking Sarsour into custody. He was first transferred to a detention facility in the Chicago area before being moved to Indiana.

  • Sarsour was detained by ICE agents on Monday, April 1, 2026.
  • Sarsour spoke with the Islamic Society of Milwaukee's executive director by phone on Thursday, April 4, 2026.

The players

Salah Sarsour

The 53-year-old president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, the largest Islamic organization in Wisconsin, and a legal permanent resident who has lived in the U.S. for over 30 years.

Othman Atta

The executive director of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee.

American Muslims for Palestine

An organization of which Sarsour was a board member, which described him as 'a pillar of the community and a law-abiding Milwaukee business owner.'

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What they’re saying

“Salah Sarsour is a pillar of the community and a law-abiding Milwaukee business owner.”

— American Muslims for Palestine

“I spoke by phone with Mr. Sarsour on Thursday afternoon.”

— Othman Atta, Executive Director, Islamic Society of Milwaukee

What’s next

The Islamic Society of Milwaukee said it is working with Sarsour's lawyers to secure his release from detention.

The takeaway

The arrest of the prominent Muslim community leader Salah Sarsour has raised concerns about potential racial profiling and the targeting of immigrant rights advocates, underscoring the broader tensions around immigration enforcement and its impact on minority communities.